Searchlight



March 19, 1929.

o. KRELL S liARCHLIGI-[T Filed June 29, 1927 Patented Mar. 19, 1 929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO KRELL, OF BERLIN-DAHLEM, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SIEIVIENS-SCI-IUCKERT- WERKE GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRAN'KTER HAF'IUNG, F BERLIN-SIEMENS- STAIDT, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

SEARCHLIGHT.

Application filed June 29,1927, Serial No. 202,428, and in Germany June 25, 1926.

My invention relates to improvements in searchlights and more particularly to searchlights of that type in which the drum or case enclosing the lamp mechanism is mounted upon rockers or curved runners which 10 ping angles viz, such of about. i30 because with the present day rocker construction the rockers become excessively long and inconvenient beyond that angle. To permit the projection of the light beam upwards, the rockers have also been provided with scythelike extensions. In order to permit the following of objects quickly moving in space with the beam of light, it is desirable to tip the drum from the horizontal projecting position across the zenith into the opposite horizontal projecting position.

According to my invention the rockers are so designed that the projecting axis of the searchlight may be turned through an angle of at least 180. To attain this end in view a rocker is arranged diametrically opposite in the same circle to one of the first rockers and connected with the scythe-like intermediate pieces. The intermediate pieces are furthermore hinged to the rockers for horizontal projection. For this purpose these rockers may be hinged so as to be capable ofbeing folded over sideways in order to facilitate the removal of the searchlight mirror from the rear. To obtain a secure mounting of the rockers the hinged rocker sections for vertical projection may furthermore be braced and stiffened against each other. This bracing may preferably be effected by easily detachable distance pieces.

In order to keep the object to be illuminated always within the beam of the searchlight the drum of which is to be tipped right up into the vertical position and beyond it into the reverse horizontal projecting position, provisions must furthermore be made to permit rotation of the searchlight around the vertical axis. If this turning motion were carried through by a horizontal rotation of the entire Searchlight high angular speeds might sometimes be necessary even if the object moved only slightly sideways to the zenith of the searchlight, because-the angular speed of the object to the zenith axis then becomes very high. avoid a horizontal rotation of the searchlight the vertical tipping plane of the Searchlight drum may be inclined sideways to keep the object within the beam merely by tipping and inclining the drum sideways without the necessity of turning the drum in the horizontal plane. To obtain this lateral inclination of the vertical tipping plane of the Searchlight drum in a simple manner special rockers may be provided transversely to and supporting the main rockers. In actual use it will in most cases suiiice to choose the angle by which the tipping axis of the scurchlight is to be inclined sideways between about 20 to degrees. In this design of the transverse rockers the advantage of the provision of rockers viz, that the side portions of the searchlight drum are kept free for fixing auxiliary mechanisms, is not impaired in any way.

To facilitate the turning of the searchlight upon the rockers, the lamps as well as all the other devices necessary for operating the In order to is searchlight are preferably located as symmetrically as possible to the horizontal plane placed through the projecting axis when the searchlight is projecting its beam horizontally, so that the axis through the center of gravity around which the drum is turned when elevating the beam is also located in this symmetrical plane. In this way the position of the scarchlight becomes almost equally favorable for all directions of pro ection.

In order to simplify. the control gear of the Searchlight with the drum mounted on rockers I provide a specially designed device for moving the searchlight. This device may preferably consist of three rods or bars arranged in the shape of a pyramid, of which the upper rod is led to that point of the tipping axis in which this axis intersects the circumference of the drum and the two other rods are led to particularly suitable points of the transverse rocker. In this way the result is attained that the point/of support of the upper rod does not change its location in space in relation to the points of engagement of the lower rods.

In the drawings aifixed'hereto an embodiment of my invention is illustrated by way Like parts are indicated by like numerals of reference in both figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the drum, shell or casing of the searchlight, 2 and 2 are the rockers for horizontal projection and 3 the scythe-shaped rocker sections for steep projection, which are hinged to the rockers for horizontal projection by means of the hinges 1. 5 are the rollers upon which these rockers ride. These rollers 5 are journaled in the transverse rockers 6 and 6' which in their turn ride upon rollers 7 which serve for their guidance and are journaled in the turntable 8. The turntable 8 rests upon the stationary base 19.

In order that all the guide rollers should participate as uniformly as possible in supporting the searchlight drum, tl ese rollers are mounted on eccentric portions of the shaft .9 journaled in the transverse rockers and the turntable and adapted to be maintained stationary, so that the spacing of the pivot pins of the rollers from the circular guide track of the rockers is adjustable.

To prevent knocks at the joint 10 when the rocker sections run over the rollers, the

' rollers are journaled in such a way that the joints are relieved at the moment when running over the rollers. Provisions are therefore made that the uide roller which for the time being is located underneath the joint is relieved of the weight of the searchlight. This end in view may be attained by providing at least four guide rollers, two each at either side of the symmetrical plane. t is necessary that the pivot pins 9 for the rollers be journaled resiliently.

.11, 12 and 13 are the rods of the breast guide arranged in the shape of a pyramid.

' 1a is the support of the breast guide, 15 and 16 are the handwheels for operating the rods. The rods 11, 12 and 13 are connected with the drum by universal joints 17 and 18. The rod 11 can be shortened or lengthened.

In this way the result is attained that the elevation of the operating point is not substantially varied when the drum is inclined sideways.

My improved device operates in the following manner: hen the searchlight is to be tipped from the position shown into a position for projecting the beam of light upwards, the rollers 5 are rotated by operating the handwheel 15 by means of the shafts 12 and 13 provided with universal joints and thus the searchlight is turned upon the rockers 2, 2. The inclination of the tipping axis is effected by means ofthe handwheel 16 and a gearing by shortening or lengthening the rod 11. In this way the main rockers 2, 2 of the searchlight drum are inclined to the vertical plane on the transverse-rockers 6, 6 which rest upon the rollers 7 journaled in the turntable 8. If it is necessary to slew the searchlight i. e. to turn it around its vertical axis the turntable 8 is turned upon the base 19 by laying hold of the control end of the breast steering pyramid after the supporting rod 14 has been raised.

This design of the Searchlight enables a single operator to carry out all the main movements of the Searchlight without leaving his stand.

Various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I desire, there fore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art. j

I claim as my invention v 1. A earchlight comprising a lamp-housing containing the mirror and the lamp, a pairof rockers fixed on said housing and rollers for suppor'ing the housing on said rockers, said rockers consisting each of two stationary sections, fixed respectively to the top and the bottom of the housing and of a rear section surrounding the back of the housing and being hinged to'said stationary sections to permit the folding of the rear section against the housing, and means for bracing said hinged rocker sections in unfolded position, said rockers when unfolded permitting the tilting of said housing to swing the light beam in a vertical plane through an angle of at least 180.

2. A Searchlight comprising a lamp-housing containing the mirror and the lamp, a pair of circular shaped rockers attached to the housing in concentric relation to a horizontal transverse axis passing through the projection axis and rollers for supporting the housing on said rockers, said rockers consisting'each of two stationary sections, fixed respectively to the top and the bottom of the housing and of a rear section surrounding the back of the housing and being hinged to said stationary sections to permit the folding housing, and means for bracing said hinged rocker sections in unfolded position, said rockers when unfolded permitting the tilting of said housing to swing the light beam in a vertical plane through an angle of at least'180.

3. A Searchlight comprising a lamp-housing containing the mirror and the lamp, a pair of rockers fixed on said housing and rollers for supporting the housing on said rockers, said rockers consisting each of two stationary sections, fixed respectively to the of the rear section against the" has top and the bottom of the housing and of a rear section surrounding the back of the housing and being hinged to said stationary sections to permit the folding of the rear section against the housing, and means for bracing said hinged rocker sections in unfolded position, said rockers when unfolded permitting the tilting of said housing to swing the light beam in a vertical plane through an angle of at least 180, and a pair of rockers mounted on the bottom of the lamp casing, transversely to said first mentioned rockers, for inclining the plane in which the housing tilts on said first rockers.

4. A searchlight comprising a lamp-housing containing the mirror and the lamp, a pair of rockers fixed on said housing and two roller pairs for said rocker pair for supporting the housing on said rockers, said rockers surrounding the housing to a suflicient extent to permit the tilting of the light beam in a vertical plane through an angle of at least 180, and a pair of transverse rockers on said housing for inclining the tilting plane, and a hand control device for moving the housing on said tWo sets of rockers, comprising a hand gear and two shafts operated thereby, each shaft being connected to one of said roller pairs for vertical plane tilting, and a hand gear and an extensible rod operated thereby and being jointed to the side of the housing for inclining the housing on said transverse rockers, an upright supporting rod of suitable length, resting at one end on the ground and having said hand control device hinged to its upper end, permitting the simultaneous housing tilting and the inclining of its tilting plane.

5. A searchlight comprising a lamp-housing containing the mirror and the lamp, a pair of rockers fixed on said housing and two roller pairs for said rocker pair for supporting the housing on said rockers, said rockers surrounding the housing to a sufficient extent to permit the tilting of the light beam in a vertical plane through an angle of at least 180, and a pair of transverse rockers on said housing for inclining the tilting plane, and a hand control device for moving the housing on.said two sets of rockers, comprising a hand gear and two shafts operated thereby, each shaft being connected to one of said roller pairs for vertical plane tilting, and a hand gear and an extensible rod operated thereby and being jointed to the side of the housing at a point at which the tilting axis intersects the housing for inclining the housing on said transverse rockers, an upright supporting rod of suitable length, resting at one end on the ground and having said hand control device hinged to its upper end, permitting the simultaneous housing tilting and the inclining of its tilting plane.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

OTTO KRELL. 

